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Podcast Episode 217: Choosing a Law School (with Dr. Shirag Shemmassian)

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Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking with Dr. Shirag Shemmassian — a law school admissions expert who has been featured on The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, and NBC — about the process of deciding which law schools to apply to, and choosing the one to attend.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Dr. Shemmassian’s background and his work in admissions counseling
  • Factors to consider when choosing which schools to apply to
  • How many schools should be on the average applicant’s list?
  • Going straight through to law school vs taking
    some time off
  • What to think about when deciding which school to choose if you’ve gotten into a few places
  • Presenting your story in terms of what’s going to make you a great alumnus
  • Financial aid and the importance of scholarships

Thanks for listening!

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Podcast Episode 216: How Do You Know When You Need Extra Help in Law School?

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Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re discussing some warning signs suggesting you might need extra help in law school, and talk about why seeking help is a sign of strength and not a weakness.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Why sometimes even good students start to struggle in law school
  • “Good confusion” versus “bad confusion”
  • Tracking your hours and allocating time to deep work
  • Why midterms are a blessing, not a curse
  • The importance of testing yourself in the same format as your final exam
  • Signs that you are probably doing fine
  • Red flags indicating you might need extra help
  • Getting special accommodations due to any learning differences
  • Why reaching out for help is a great idea

Thanks for listening!

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Podcast Episode 215: Listen and Learn — The Commerce Clause

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Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re introducing a new series of podcast episodes called “Listen and Learn,” where we’re going to review substantive areas of the law and apply some of that law to facts. In this episode, we’re talking about the Commerce Clause.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The basic structure of first-year Constitution Law classes
  • How the Commerce Clause is typically taught in class
  • Building a case-based rule for the Commerce Clause
  • A fact pattern involving a fictional product called Lickable Wallpaper
  • Creating an analytical framework and applying it to the fact pattern

Thanks for listening!

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Podcast Episode 214: Handling an Extensive Job Search Outside of OCI

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Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about how to find a job if you struck out at OCI, or never tried it to begin with.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The job search framework from The Girl’s Guide to Law School series by Katie Slater
  • Developing a big-picture view about your skills and strengths
  • Creating a list of all your contacts and keeping track of your communication with them
  • Trying a tiered approach, starting with your ideal jobs
  • Listing out the steps you need to take in the job search process and keeping track of your progress
  • Tips for mental and emotional well-being while handling an extensive search
  • Getting outside help, from coaches, mentors, family, or friends if you’ve hit a dead end

Thanks for listening!

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Podcast Episode 213: Why Practice Is So Important in Law School

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Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking about the importance of doing practice questions and getting feedback on your writing in preparation for exams.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The disconnect between class and exams
  • Where to find study materials and academic support to get started
  • Reviewing your work and getting feedback
  • How early in the semester should you start practicing, and when is it too late to be worth it?
  • What if you find that doing practice questions on your own is not going so well?
  • Practicing for multiple choice exams

Thanks for listening!

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Podcast Episode 212: Bouncing Back from a Major Mistake

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Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking about how to bounce back after making a significant mistake — one of those school, career, or personal screw ups that sometimes can be a major headache — and what steps to take to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Assessing whether the mistake really is as big of a deal as it appears at first
  • Looking at how famous people, such as politicians, deal with their own faux pas
  • Common scenarios where something can go wrong at school or work
  • How owning up and taking responsibility will go a long way to repairing the damage
  • Taking specific steps to make sure the mistake doesn’t happen again
  • Where to look for help if you feel like you’ve made a mistake in your personal life

Thanks for listening!

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